The speech therapy process involves a series of sessions tailored to the individual patient’s needs and goals. The speech therapist will assign practices, introduce strategies for clearer communication, and demonstrate exercises. Throughout the therapy, the speech therapist may ask the patient to practice stretches and movements in the neck, jaw, and throat in between sessions. The speech therapist will also provide feedback at the end of each session.
Fluency disorder
Other stuttering and fluency disorder symptoms include repeated words or syllables, dragging out syllables, and mumbling. Treatment plans will be customized to the client’s specific needs and goals. While childhood stuttering is usually genetic, adults are more susceptible. A child who grew up with a stuttering relative may also grow up to stutter. Genetics and family history play a role in predisposition to stuttering and the neural network and activities of the brain. Research suggests that adults with stuttering disorder exhibit distinct differences in their right and left hemispheres, which may cause the disfluency of speech in adults.
Adults with stuttering may benefit from speech therapy to correct their issues. Often, it’s associated with other developmental delays or neurological conditions. In addition to stuttering, adult patients with dysphonia may also experience other issues related to their voice, such as spasmodic dysphonia.
Dysarthria
A speech-language pathologist will evaluate your client’s symptoms and help determine whether dysarthria is the cause of their difficulty speaking or hearing. They may recommend an MRI to rule out other potential causes. Dysarthria is a neurological disorder that is difficult to treat without specialized therapy. Several tests may be needed to diagnose dysarthria. Imaging tests can create detailed images of the head, neck and brain. Nerve and brain studies may also be used to identify the exact cause of the symptoms. Nerve conduction studies and electroencephalogram are a few of the standard tests.
If a speech therapist has diagnosed dysarthria, they may begin treatment by strengthening the muscles in the mouth and throat to improve speech. They may also look at compensatory techniques, such as using a drawing board or a smartphone to copy what you hear. While it may be challenging to communicate without the help of a speech therapist, it is possible to overcome the difficulty and improve your communication skills.
Aphasia
Aphasia is a neurological disease that interferes with speaking, reading, and understanding language. A speech therapist helps these patients to improve their overall quality of life.
Speech therapists use several methods to improve a person’s ability to speak. One type is articulation therapy, which targets exercises that make it easier to understand what you’re saying. The vibrations of the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate affect a person’s speech. Articulation problems are caused by a malfunction in one or more of these areas, so speech therapy aims to correct these issues. The therapist will help the patient improve their skills in each area to increase their confidence and independence.
Larynx issues
A larynx problem can result from various conditions, from an acute infection to a chronic problem. Laryngeal problems’ main symptoms include hoarseness, vocalisation difficulty, and pain in the larynx. A speech and language therapist can help treat the underlying cause and develop new, more efficient ways to use the voice. A multidisciplinary team may be involved in the treatment of larynx issues. You may consult Physio Inq for an initial consultation with the best doctor.
Some treatment methods are non-surgical, like electrolarynx or voice therapy. When a larynx issue results from a vocal cord disorder, the patient may experience hoarseness, a jerky voice, or even spasmodic dysphonia, a condition caused by brain disorders. In severe cases, this disorder can lead to paralysis of the vocal cords. Speech therapy aims to alleviate the symptoms and regain normal vocal function. Depending on the cause, speech therapy may also help modify accents and voice tone.
Treatment options
To determine the severity of your speech disorder, your healthcare provider will perform a range of tests. These may include mental and physical exams, language comprehension, and retention tests. Different types of therapy may be recommended based on the specific diagnosis. If your condition is more severe, your treatment will likely focus on improving specific skill sets. You will likely also be given homework to practice speaking. However, the exact treatment method will depend on the type of speech disorder and its severity.
